Aviation security announcement

UK Inbound flights some countries - Initial Advice

The ABTA Destinations team continue to monitor the Governments new aviation security measures that will be introduced on all inbound direct flights to the UK from the following countries:

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Saudi Arabia

Tunisia

Turkey

Advice for Members

Members who operate to any of the affected countries are advised to liaise with their airlines regarding these new security measures and update their customers imminently due to depart to theses destinations of the revised security arrangements. Customers currently in resort should be advised of the revised security arrangements and should be advised to fully comply with the requirements.

Members are advised to monitor the situation closely and update their customers accordingly.

Contact their travel insurance company ahead of travel as these devices are typically not covered by travel insurance policies either for loss, damage or theft when in the hold.

Consider leaving their larger electronic devices at home but we appreciated that may be difficult

Customers travelling with these items who are traveling with hand baggage only are advised to liaise with their airline to make arrangements for checked baggage.

ABTA Press statement

The Department for Transport has advised that passengers on inbound flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, will have to check any phones, laptops and tablets larger than a standard smartphone (specifically: Length: 16.0cm, Width: 9.3cm, Depth: 1.5cm) into checked baggage.

If you are travelling to the countries affected with laptops and tablet computers, such as iPads and Kindles, you are advised to contact your travel insurance company ahead of travel as these devices are typically not covered by travel insurance policies either for loss, damage or theft when placed in the hold. You may also wish to consider leaving your electronic devices at home, although this may be difficult for many, especially business travellers and families travelling with children.

We will be working with our Members to make sure that their customers are aware of the new requirements and pack their bags accordingly.

You can read the full announcement from the Department for Transport online.

FCO Travel Advice Updates

The FCO has updated the travel advice for the countries affected by the new security measures. The applicable information is included in the summary of the travel advice for these countries. Please see below:

Jordan

There is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. The threat is constantly evolving and we must respond accordingly. The UK government has consequently decided to implement additional security measures for direct flights departing to the UK from Jordan in the coming days and no later than 25th March. You should co-operate fully with security officials. If you need more information about how this may affect your flight, contact your airline or travel company. We are not advising against travel by air to and from Jordan.

View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/jordan

The overall level of the advice has not changed. There are restrictions within the advice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to within 3km of the entire Syrian border, and to within 6km of the Syrian border between routes 15 and 35. This is due to the risk of small arms fire, stray mortars, or other attacks in the area. See Border areas

Lebanon

There is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. The threat is constantly evolving and we must respond accordingly. The UK government has consequently decided to implement additional security measures for direct flights departing to the UK from Lebanon in the coming days and no later than 25th March. You should co-operate fully with security officials. If you need more information about how this may affect your flight, contact your airline or travel company. We are not advising against travel by air to and from Lebanon.

View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lebanon

The overall level of the advice has not changed. There are restrictions within the advice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

Tripoli

Palestinian refugee camps

the Hermel Area, including Arsal, Baalbek

the Bekaa Valley east of the Baalbek El Hermel high way to the Syrian border and to the east of the main road which runs south through Rayak, by-passing Masnaa, Rachaiya, Hasbaiya and Marjayoun and El Khaim, to the border

Akkar district

areas of Liban-Nord district north of the southern city limits of Tripoli and east into the Bekaa Valley

southern suburbs of Beirut east of the airport road, defined as: south of the sports stadium to the airport, to east of the main airport highway including the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiry, Chuya, Haret, Hraik, Burj Al Brajne, Mraije, Er Rouais and Laylake

southern suburbs of Beirut west of the airport road, defined as: west of the airport highway to the coast, south from Adnan El Hakim Road to Abbas El Mousawi Road.

The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:

Bekaa Valley west of the Baalbek El Hermel high way except for the towns of Zahlé and Chtaura, and the main road between both towns and to Beirut

Saida except for the road that runs through the city directly alongside the coast (referred to locally as ‘the coastal road’)

outh of the Litani River except the main Naqoura-Tyre-Saida-Beirut highway and all areas to the west of it, up to the Lebanese Armed Forces check point, roughly 5km south of Tyre.

Saudi Arabia

There is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. The threat is constantly evolving and we must respond accordingly. The UK government has consequently decided to implement additional security measures for direct flights departing to the UK from Saudi Arabia in the coming days and no later than 25th March. You should co-operate fully with security officials. If you need more information about how this may affect your flight, contact your airline or travel company. We are not advising against travel by air to and from Saudi Arabia.

View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia

The overall level of the advice has not changed. There are restrictions within the advice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen and against all but essential travel between 10km and 80km of this border. If you’re currently in an area to which the FCO advise against all but essential travel, you should consider whether you have an essential reason to remain. If you do not, you should leave the area.

Turkey

There is a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation. The threat is constantly evolving and we must respond accordingly. The UK government has consequently decided to implement additional security measures for direct flights departing to the UK from Turkey in the coming days and no later than 25th March. You should co-operate fully with security officials. If you need more information about how this may affect your flight, contact your airline or travel company. We are not advising against travel by air to and from Turkey.

View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

The overall level of the advice has not changed. There are restrictions within the advice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to within 10 km of the border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir.

British Airways Update

British Airways is complying with the new security requirements from the UK government on flights TO the UK FROM the following countries:

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Saudi Arabia

Tunisia

Turkey

More information

If you are flying from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia or Turkey

The new cabin baggage security requirements only affect direct flights FROM these countries to the UK.

You will not be able to carry laptops, tablets and larger mobile phones in your hand baggage on these flights. Only mobile phones smaller than the following dimensions will be allowed in the cabin:

Length: 16 cm

Width: 9.3 cm

Depth: 1.5 cm> More information can be found on the UK Department for Transport's website

You should either not travel with these larger items, or pack them in your checked baggage. The items must be switched off before being placed in checked baggage.

If you are part-way through your journey (e.g. on a short business trip or holiday) or about to start your journey in one of these countries and feel that you are unable to immediately comply with the new UK government requirements, then we will be able to rebook your flight to a later date so that you are able to meet them. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Although the UK Government requirements only apply to flights FROM these countries, you may wish to consider how you pack your hand baggage and checked baggage on your flight from the UK so that you can comply on your return journey to London.

All British Airways flights to/from these countries continue to operate as normal. If you are due to travel, please arrive in good time for the various stages of your journey including check-in, main security search areas and at the boarding gate. You will be subject to additional searches and questions.

It is likely that we will be calling customers to the boarding gate earlier in the listed countries so please do all you can to help us depart the flight punctually.

The safety and security our customers and crew will always be our top priority and we continue to work very closely with governments and airports around the world.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in helping us to comply with the additional UK government security requirements.

For current updates please use the following website www.gov.uk/government/speeches/additional-airline-security-measures-on-some-routes-travelling-to-the-uk.